Human Resources Manager Niles Operations

The HR Manager is the senior on-site HR leader for JohnsByrne's Niles campus, owning the full employee lifecycle across three manufacturing buildings and three shifts. This role is accountable for all HR systems, processes, and compliance at the site, partners with Operations on safety reporting and incident investigation, and serves as the primary liaison to staffing agencies supporting the site's temporary workforce. The HR Manager leads a team of two and works closely with the Director of Operations to deliver a consistent, compliant, and people-first employee experience across every shift.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

Site HR Leadership

• Serve as the primary HR point of contact and site leader for all Niles buildings, ensuring HR presence and support across all three shifts
• Lead, coach, and develop two direct reports; set priorities, review work, and build team capability
• Partner with the Director of Operations and shift supervisors on workforce planning, staffing levels, and organizational needs
• Act as a trusted advisor to site leadership on employee relations, performance management, and engagement

Employee Relations & Investigations

• Conduct and document workplace investigations (harassment, discrimination, misconduct, policy violations) in a timely, thorough, and legally defensible manner
• Coach supervisors on corrective action, documentation, and consistent policy application
• Support disciplinary actions and separations in partnership with the VP of Human Resources

Safety Reporting & Investigation

• Partner with Operations and Safety on incident reporting, root-cause investigation, and corrective action follow-through
• Maintain OSHA 300/300A/301 logs and ensure timely, accurate recordkeeping and postings
• Administer workers' compensation claims from first report through return-to-work, coordinating with the carrier and Operations
• Support safety training compliance, including required training for temporary workers under the Illinois Day and Temporary Labor Services Act (DTLSA)

Temporary Workforce & Agency Liaison

• Serve as primary HR liaison to staffing agencies in partnership with Operations; manage the day-to-day relationship, onboarding flow, and issue resolution
• Ensure DTLSA compliance, including equal-pay-and-benefits obligations for temporary workers assigned 90+ days, required disclosures, and safety training documentation
• Track temporary worker headcount, assignment length, conversion pipeline, and agency performance; recommend conversions and agency changes

Compliance & HR Systems

• Own site-level compliance with federal, Illinois, and Cook County employment law, including but not limited to: FLSA, FMLA, ADA, Title VII, Illinois Human Rights Act, Illinois Equal Pay Act, Paid Leave for All Workers Act / Cook County Paid Leave Ordinance, VESSA, One Day Rest in Seven Act, Personnel Record Review Act, Biometric Information Privacy Act (BIPA), Illinois Wage Payment and Collection Act, and Right to Privacy in the Workplace Act (E-Verify)
• Serve as site owner and subject-matter expert for the HRIS (Paycom): position management, onboarding, timekeeping, employee self-service, document management, and reporting; ensure data integrity, complete required audits, and train supervisors on system use
• Complete Form I-9 / E-Verify processing, maintain required postings in English and Spanish, and manage personnel files and records retention
• Administer leaves of absence (FMLA, Illinois paid leave, VESSA, ADA accommodations, workers' compensation) and coordinate benefits enrollment and questions with Corporate HR
• Prepare and submit required reporting (EEO-1 support, Illinois Equal Pay Registration Certificate data, OSHA, unemployment claims, subpoenas)
• Deliver and track required training: annual Illinois sexual harassment prevention training, safety, and supervisor training

Talent, Onboarding & Engagement

• Partner with the recruiting team on hourly and salaried hiring for the site; conduct interviews and manage offers for hourly roles
• Own new-hire orientation and onboarding across all shifts; drive 30/60/90-day check-ins and retention initiatives
• Support performance review cycles, merit planning, and job description maintenance for site roles
• Lead site engagement, recognition, and communication efforts, ensuring bilingual accessibility where needed